UP CM Yogi Adityanath emphasises need for education system rooted in Indian values

BASTI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday asserted that "India became prosperous by the virtue of its hard work", unlike foreign countries, which amassed wealth after looting India and the world. Adityanath was addressing a gathering in Basti district after laying the foundation of Saraswati Shishu Mandir and performing its 'bhoomipujan'.

Adityanath underlined the need for an education system rooted in Indian values, culture and devotion to the nation. He recalled that in the years after Independence, when governments failed to make significant efforts, Nanaji Deshmukh took the initiative from Gorakhpur to establish Saraswati Shishu Mandir institutions not merely to impart literacy but to ensure the holistic development of children.

From just five students in its first school at Pakkibagh in Gorakhpur, the network has now expanded to 12,000 schools, producing students who are taking leadership roles in society, he added.

"(Earlier) a tendency had cropped up, and the slave mindset had engulfed the country in such a way that every Indian started feeling that an Indian should be looked down upon, while a foreigner should be looked up to from the affluence ('sampannata') point of view. You have seen that this bad tendency has been curtailed in the past 11 years," the chief minister said.

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'Eliminate elements of slavery, distance from foreign goods'

Adityanath said India's contribution to the world economy was 25 per cent, but unfortunately, it came down to just two per cent when the country became independent in 1947.

"India was looted, India was torn up and symbols of India's heritage were broken and insulted," he said, and added that such a feeling was created that whoever is an Indian will not be good," Adityanath said.

As a result, he said, instead of Hindi and Sanskrit, Indians started making English the symbol of Indianness.

A university was also built in Azamgarh in the name of Maharaja Suheldev because he is an ancestor and an ideal who contributed to saving India and Indianness in times of crisis, he added. "But, the slave mentality took over us to such an extent that we started asking about Salar Masood everywhere. The society forgot Maharaja Suheldev.

"That's why we have to eliminate the elements of slavery, distance ourselves from foreign goods -- the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has said 'Vocal for Local' for this," Adityanath said.

The UP CM also urged people to prioritise Made in India products, especially those crafted by Indian artisans for daily use, and gift them so that profits directly benefit the artisans. This would drive India's prosperity, he added.